Float operated valve



June 4, 1935. F. J. MASTERSON FLOAT OPERATED VALVE Filed June 25, 1931 INVENTOR V/I'll willing n n nwl iii!!! IIIIIIIIIII! Patented June 4, 1935 7 Frank J. Masterson, Brooklyn, N.

Application June 25, 1931, Serial No. 546,764

9 Claims. This invention relates to ball cocks and particularly to an improved construction of float controlled valve for controlling inflow of water from a pressure supply to a water closet flush tank.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved pivoted operating structure and integral fulcrum for operating the valve member in closing off the pressure supply in a ball cock.

Another object of this invention is to provide a ball cock shut off valve having an enclosed wrist pin in the valve head which will positively open and close without the use of removable pivot pins and without the usual necessary linkage.

Another object of this invention is to provide a ball cock control valve which is provided with an aperture in the valve head acting as a fixed fulcrum and which thus has fewer moving parts and will be more economical to construct and more satisfactory to use.

Another object of this invention is to simplify the valve operating mechanism in a ball cock for a water closet flush tank bydoing'away with complicated linkages, easily lost fulcrum pins and other parts by fulcruming the ball operating rod on the valve casing and pivoting the rod into the valve head by a wrist pin construction.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear from the following description thereof taken in connection with the attached drawing which illustrate a preferred form of embodiment of this device.

' Figure l is a side elevation of a flush tank showing the respective elements in a typical position.

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the inlet pipe showing the valve operating structure.

Figure 3 is a horizontal plan of the inlet pipe shown in Figure 2 and taken substantially on the line 33' of Figure 2. I

Figure 4 isa horizontal section substantially on the line 4--4 of Figure 2 showing the water passages.

Figure 5 is a detail side elevation with parts broken away showing the connection of the auxiliary pipe.

Figurefi is a detail vertical section showing.

the operation of the valve in the open position as contrasted with the showing in Figure 2 of the valve in the closed position, and;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the wrist pm.

The ball cock control valve in flush tanks of the types now known have the objection that a separate and usually removable fulcrum pin is used which occasionally works its way out and becomes lost, or when it is desired to remove the fulcrum pin it is so rusted in that it cannot be removed, and in either case the constructed is objectionable as it is inconvenient to assemble and disassemble the respective operating parts and the parts are usually loose and ill fitted due to wear. It is also frequently necessary to use an elaborate linkage of many aux: iliary supports in order to effectively shut oil and turn on the water as desire In my invention I have remedied this situation by providing a fixed fulcrum and pivot construction which may take the form of a wrist pin as shown in Figure 1. The flush tank I0 is adapted to contain .water'to a level II which will coact on the ball [2 to raise it substantially'to the top of the flush tank ID. A suitable overflow i3 is provided to limit the high-water level of thetank.

By means of a suitable handle 14 which operates the link IS, a valve 16 is raised off its seat i? permitting the water to flush the water closet through the exit pipe I8 as desired. The valve seat I! is of substantial height, thus regulating the low water level IS. The flushing valve and associated parts are all of common knowledge and represents a substantially typical example of the present day construction of flush tank. The features of my invention are shown in connection with the'filler pipe 28 which is suitably secured to a water inlet 2| in order to fill the tank. The filler pipe 20 is provided with a suitable head 22 which contains my improved control valve 23 as more particularly shown in Figure 2. As

shown in detail in Figure 2 theflller pipe 20 is spaced from the true inlet pipe 2| for apurpose hereinafter to be shown. The head 22 is provided with an aperture and collar 24 through which the ball rod 25 extends, the collar 2 acting as the fulcrum. This ball rod extends into the ball l2 on one end and is pivotally secured ot the valve 23 as by means'of a wrist pin 26 into which the rod 25 may bev threaded as shown in Figure 7.

The use of the wrist pin 25 is a preferred form of pivotal connection and. it eliminates the use of any other external link or linkage or support or any loose pivot and merely requires a suitable transverse bore in the top of the inlet valve 23 and the formation of a suitable notch in which the ball rod 25 is adapted to oscillate. Theball rod operates on the collar 2% as a fulcrum and when the water level reaches the high water mark H, the ball rod operates on the top of the collar 2 as a fulcrum thusfcrcing the inlet valve 23 down until the washer 2e, preferably of rubber, contacts with the inlet valve seat 29 on the inlet pipe 2i to effectively shut off-the water. When, however, the control valve 86 is opened to remove the water from the flush tank iii the'ball l2 drops to the lower position and the ball rod 25. 1

then operates on the lower part of'the collar 2% valve seat 29 as moreparticularly shown in Figure 5.. The enlarged collar 24 on the casing or open the valve upon the head 22 is desirable to permit this small amount of lag between the upper and lower fulcrum as it positively opens and closes the valve. It should be understood, however, that when the flow of water is in a direction tending to open the valve, its pressure in most cases is sufficiently high to falling of the float. On the other hand if the water pressure is low as is true in many localities, or if the valve is sluggish from corrosion and/or infrequent use the weight of the float and its connecting rod act in a positive manner to open the valve.

The inlet valve 29 is formed in the shape of a spider as shown in Figure 4 providing a plurality of water outlets 30 and the water then pours out between the inlet pipe 2i and the spaced shell so that the water will escape out of the inlet pipe and into the chamber below thelower water level. This permits silent operation as the water does not escape into the air or splash, but always enters the chamber below the lowest'water level line. A suitable vent 32 is provided to permit the escape of water and also for the purpose of replenishing the water seal of the water closet when necessary, the pipe from the vent not being shown.

The inlet valve 23 may preferably be made of brass or any other desired material and is preferably centrally bored at 33 to facilitate the insertlon of the hemispherical washer 28. The movement of the .wrist pin 26 within the valve head 23 is limited and causes very little wear and the wrist pin being screw threaded can be easily assembled or disassembled by merely inserting the rod and giving it the necessary turns. The wrist pin will not come out as it is confined within the head 22 and it will give a silent operation which is not affected by the moisture, no parts will rust and each movement polishes the bearing of the wrist pin. The bushing 24 acts as a fixed fulcrum eliminating the parts usually necessary and still giving a positive opening and closing of the valve, and as there are no parts to rust, wear out, become disassembled or to otherwise cause objection, the valve will give a long and uninterrupted service.

The pivoted wrist pin construction may be used for the transferring of motion from the ball to the valve to be used irrespective of the manner by which the valve closes the water supply.

While I have shown a preferred form of embodiment of this device I am aware that other modifications may be made therein and I therefore wish to have the claims considered in a broad light in view of the description herein andthe claims appended hereinafter I claim:

1'. In a ball cock of the class described comprising a liquid controlling member, a float, and a connecting member to stop the flow of liquid when the float reaches a definite position, and a pinless, multiple point fulcrum for said connecting member, said connecting member operating on one point of said fulcrum to close off liquid flow and on a different point to open the liquid controlling member, said connecting member being free to rotate about the longitudinal axis, said connecting member being unsecured at the fulcrum point, said connecting member being attached to and pivoted in said valve member.

. 2. A ball cock comprising an inlet valve, a float for controlling the operation of said valve, a casing for said valve having an aperture therein, and connecting means operated by said float to open and close said valve, said means being freely pivoted on said aperture as a pinless fulcrum and pivotal means in said valve into which said connecting means is screw threaded.

3. A ball cock comprising a valve casing, a float controlled member projecting through said casing and freely pivoted thereon, a valve memher in said casing having a transverse bore, a wrist pin in said bore, said float controlled member being screwed into said wrist pin.

4. In a ball cock a valve casing, a valvemember movable within said casing, a wrist pin within said valve to transmit motion to said valve, a valve seat, a hemispherical washer on said valve and contacting with the valve seat to close off communication and means to move said wrist pin including a float, an operating rod connected to the wrist pin and a pinless fulcrum for said rod.

5. A ball cock for water closet flush tanks comprising an inlet valve having a transverse bearing, a float for controlling the operation of said valve, a wrist pin journaled within said valve bearing, and a rod extending between said float and said wrist pin and fulcrumed between the ends to transmit a motion opposite to the movement of the float to said valve, said rod holding said valve in said bearing, said rod being freely rotatable in normal position and secured to said wrist pin by rotatable movement.

6. In a ball cock of the class described a casing, a liquid controlling member, a float member, and a connecting member operated by said float member and closing the liquid controlling member when the float reaches a predetermined position, said casing having an aperture through which the connecting member extends to act as a fulcrum. said connecting member having a screw threaded end, and being free to move with respect to said fulcrum, and pivotal means carried by said liquid controlling member into which said connecting member is screwed.

7. A ball cock of the class described, a valve to be closed, a float operable to close the valve in one position, a casing for the valve, connecting means between the float and valve, a pinless and keyless fulcrum on the valve casing for said connecting means, and a rotatable member carried by the valve, said connecting means extending into said rotatable member and preventing axial movement thereof.

8. A ball cock of the class described comprising a valve member, a float and means operable by the float to move the valve member, said means including a wrist pin carried by the valve, a lever device secured in the wrist pin and a pinless fulcrum for said lever device.

9. In a ball cock of the class described, a valve member movable therein, and means for controlling the motion of said valve member to control the operation of the ball cock, said valve member having a wrist pin movable therein, said motion controlling means including a member extending through a part of said ball cock and screw threads on said extension member and wrist pin whereby said extension member on one side of a part of said ball cock may be anchored to said wrist pin on the other side of said part of said ball cock, said wrist pin being irremovable from said valve member while said extension member is secured thereto, said ball cock part serving as a keyless and pinless fulcrum for said extension member.

FRANK J. MASTERSON. 

